Asbestos pipe insulation
Prepare removal of asbestos-containing insulation using an appropriate approved method.
Discuss this projectCheck our approval with FPS Employment (French)
Insulation and pipes
OVAM reserves asbestos pipe-insulation removal for approved companies. Have the offer identify the contractor and chosen method. Distinguish insulation removal, heating work and any replacement insulation.
Pipe insulation is the covering around a pipe or installation, not the pipe itself. Removal may involve sections, joints or several networks. Distinguish insulation removal, shutting down the installation, the heating engineer’s work and fitting new insulation.
Planning removal around a working system
Locate the pipe sections in the records
Match report references to affected pipes: boiler connections, ceiling runs, bends and wall penetrations. Mention inaccessible or unexamined sections. A total length does not describe connections and obstacles; existing plans and photographs help locate these differences.
Agree shutdowns with the heating engineer
State whether the system serves one home, several apartments or business premises. Identify who arranges any shutdown, who confirms the area is available and who recommissions the installation. New pipe insulation also needs an assigned contractor and a separate scope in the quotations.
Describe obstacles in the area
Describe fixed equipment, shelves and the route from the entrance. Ask what preparation can be done before the intervention. Do not move objects touching suspect insulation or debris to clear a passage. Report their presence so they can be assessed as part of the project.
Prepare your quote
Do not scrape or open the pipe covering. Describe available documents and intended work. Specify whether it concerns a boiler, one insulated pipe or several networks, and whether installations must remain operational. We first discuss your needs to identify the right contact.
- Insulation identification and known condition
- Affected sections, joints and networks
- Shutdown, restart and new insulation
Before work starts
Have the documents checked against materials affected by the work. Location or a photograph cannot confirm asbestos. The method and required competence depend on the material and its condition and must be established before work.
Demotek SRL (enterprise number 0783.397.239) appears on the official FPS Employment list. Approval covers glove-bag removal and hermetically sealed enclosures. The method suited to your site is defined after assessment.
Asbestos rules and official sourcesYour questions
My pipe insulation is crumbling. Is it asbestos?
Damaged pipe insulation does not necessarily contain asbestos. Appearance alone cannot establish this. Have its composition and condition assessed by a competent professional without touching or dismantling it.
Is the glove-bag method used in every case?
No. Demotek’s approval covers glove-bag and hermetically sealed enclosure methods; it does not by itself determine the method for your site. The pipe configuration, material, condition and working conditions must be assessed before the intervention is selected.
Can the heating contractor remove insulation when replacing the boiler?
Replacing a boiler and removing asbestos-containing pipe insulation are separate jobs. OVAM lists the relevant asbestos insulation among applications reserved for approved removal contractors. Confirm the contractor’s identity and competence, then coordinate shutdowns, removal and heating replacement. Access for a heating contractor is not permission to handle the insulation.
Official sources
Who should extend an existing survey to cover concealed pipes?
For worker protection, FPS Employment distinguishes updating the condition of recorded materials from extending the survey to elements affected by new work. This extension must be carried out by an asbestos inventory expert. Provide network plans and identify concealed routes; do not open ducts yourself to complete the file.
Official sources
What affects a quote for removing asbestos pipe insulation?
Pipe length alone is not enough. Describe already-identified sections and fittings, their location and installations that must remain in service. Distinguish insulation removal, the heating contractor’s work and new insulation. A cluttered cellar has different access constraints from an open network, but do not move anything in contact with suspect material to prepare for the visit.
Is the grey pipe itself pipe insulation?
No. Pipe insulation is the covering around a pipe. A rigid pipe can be made from another material, including asbestos cement. Describe what the report identifies: the pipe body, its covering or both. This avoids preparing a quote for the wrong work.